CAPE TOWN - The Sokhanyo Primary School principal has blamed the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) for a lack of action in mediating a three-year conflict between himself and staff, which he says has left him fearing for his life should he return to the institution.
According to Thetha Sithole, he was last at the Gugulethu school in 2019 when he was allegedly violently manhandled, insulted by residents and had his life threatened in the presence of WCED officials.
Sithole claims that, despite all the trauma with no psycho-social support, the department has rejected his request for secondment and instead is forcing him to go back to the school.
The department, however, has refuted the claims, saying that training was provided to all staff before he left, and that he informed them about seeing a private practitioner.
Sithole said: “The conflict at the school, which started around 2018, was because of poor levels of discipline displayed by certain teachers. This includes them not reporting for work after long weekends or pay days. As a person who challenged these behaviours and wanted the teachers to account, this made me unpopular.”
He said the toxic environment at the school worsened after he reported a few incidents against some teachers, but no action was taken.
“However, when I was accused of mismanaging the school’s funds, the WCED officials took the matter seriously.
“The department had been conducting financial assessments at school and would give recommendations. The charges were fabricated because I was still in the process of implementing the recommendations.
“Officials informed me of a forensic audit that was conducted by a provincial financial officer and the report was available. I was never interviewed but was charged.”
Sithole said that in 2019 a group of parents, allegedly at the behest of teachers, locked classes and pushed him away from the school premises.
“The district team was at the school but there was no effort from the team to resolve the matter amicably. I submitted my leave at the end of January but returned to the same crowd in February which blocked my entry to the school.
“I want to survive again but in another school where I will be safe. I have been hospitalised a number of times due to harassment and stress,” Sithole added.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said it had been Sithole’s personal decision to not return to the school and an acting principal had been appointed in the interim.
She said while Sithole has not been at the school since 2019 he was being paid and was on temporary incapacity leave.
“The school is running smoothly, with teaching and learning taking place every school day and the necessary systems in place.
“Training was provided to the old and new SGB to address shortcomings regarding the school finances. The school is now fully compliant.
“The SGB is functioning well and the circuit manager visits the school regularly,” she said.
Hammond said Sithole was given a fair opportunity to produce all proof of allegations.
He was charged and found guilty of assault in 2019 and pleaded guilty to the charge of financial mismanagement in 2020.
“He had been issued with a final written warning and a fine. Due processes were followed. In terms of the disciplinary code and procedure of the Employment of Educators Act, the employee has the right to appeal the finding of his disciplinary hearing. No appeal was submitted.”
Cape Times